Reading Plan:
Revelation 20:11-15

Our Thoughts:
The judgment throne of Christ is both an exhilarating and terrifying scene. When Jesus was resurrected and ascended to sit at the right hand of God, He took a seat of power and authority. On several occasions in his letters, the Apostle Paul references the idea that God has put all things under the feet of Christ, which is a way of saying that God has placed His son, Jesus, as the authority over all things. For those who follow Jesus, this is great news. The one who made a way for us to be adopted as sons and daughters of God the Father reigns above all things. This is the weight behind the shouts of praise, “If God is for us who can be against us” in Romans 8:31.
However, for those who are far from God, the judgment throne carries a much different tone. Jesus made the promise from the very beginning of His earthly ministry that many will hear in eternity the words, “depart from me I never knew you” Matthew 7:23. Is there a more terrifying scene to imagine?
We are told multiple times throughout scripture that many people will walk through life never experiencing the unending grace, mercy, and love of Jesus, and that alone should be enough to break the hearts of those who believe in Jesus. The thought that those same people (our family, friends, or people who we love deeply) will step into eternity not possessing God’s redemption and thus, be destined for eternal judgment, should drive us to a relentless pursuit to be “ambassadors of the Gospel” 2 Corinthians 5:20. I often wonder if we forget the weight of the call to “go and make disciples” Matthew 28:19. Our mission is one of eternal significance.
One of the arguments that I have never been able to wrap my mind around personally is the idea that eternal judgment is antithetical to the nature of God. People will say something along the lines of, “If God is really good, He will save everyone.” Or, “If eternal punishment is real then God can’t be good.” I remember a very popular book that dominated conversations several years ago when I was in college where the author argued that God’s love was so great it had to conquer sin in everyone’s life and thus everyone would be saved in the end. While that idea sounds great in theory, it is simply not true.
Just like the existence of light necessitates the existence of darkness, and daytime means nighttime must exist, the offer of salvation requires the reality of judgment. John 3 tells us that God sent Jesus into the world for salvation not condemnation. Eternal rescue, salvation, is and has always been God’s plan through His Son. God’s desire is, as a matter of fact, that ALL PEOPLE would be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). That salvation, however, is offered - not forced. You choose. Will you follow Him in this life and thus receive the offer of forgiveness and redemption? Or will you choose to live a life of your own pursuits? Like everything in life, that choice comes with a consequence, a consequence that God has made clear in His word. The path has been laid out in front of you; the choice, however, is yours.

More Questions:
Is your faith in Christ’s authority reflected in your daily actions?
Who do you know that is far from God? What can you do to help them see God’s grace?

Prayer:
You are over all things and worthy of all praise. I pray that your name will be praised in and through my life. Help me live with the confidence today that if you are for me nothing else matters.

Author: Kyle Warren